DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion
Graphic Culture Research Grant
Application System User Guide

First Edition, April 2024

DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion

Contents1Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3

2

Recommended Environment ..................................................................................................................... 33

Applicant Registration .............................................................................................................................. 445678910113.1

Temporary Registration (email address registration) ........................................................................ 4

3.2

Password Setup.................................................................................................................................. 5

3.3

Account Data Retention Period ......................................................................................................... 6

Login ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
4.1

Login ................................................................................................................................................. 6

4.2

Two-Step Authentication................................................................................................................... 7My Page .................................................................................................................................................... 8
5.1

My Page............................................................................................................................................. 8

5.2

Logout ............................................................................................................................................... 8

Downloading Necessary Files and Editing Application Form .................................................................. 86.1

Downloading Necessary Files ........................................................................................................... 86.2

Application Form .............................................................................................................................. 96.3

Editing Application Form ................................................................................................................ 106.4

Cancel .............................................................................................................................................. 106.5

Temporary Save .............................................................................................................................. 11

Research Plan and Recommendation Form ............................................................................................ 11
7.1

Research Plan .................................................................................................................................. 11

7.2

Recommendation Form ................................................................................................................... 11

7.3

Uploading Files ............................................................................................................................... 127.4

Deleting Files .................................................................................................................................. 12

Application Submission .......................................................................................................................... 13
8.1

Application Submission .................................................................................................................. 13

8.2

Confirmation of Submission Details ............................................................................................... 138.3

Submission Completed .................................................................................................................... 14

After Submitting Application.................................................................................................................. 15
9.1

Status ............................................................................................................................................... 15

9.2

Screening ......................................................................................................................................... 16

9.3

Adoption .......................................................................................................................................... 16

Reset or Change Password and Delete Account ..................................................................................... 17
10.1

Resetting a Forgotten Password .................................................................................................. 17

10.2

Change Password ........................................................................................................................ 18

10.3

Stop Application (Account Deletion) .......................................................................................... 19

Application Flow Chart........................................................................................................................... 202

DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion

1Introduction
This guide provides an overview of the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion’s (hereafter referred toas ‘the Foundation’) web-based application system (hereafter referred to as ‘the System’) for the GraphicCulture Research Grant (hereafter referred to as ‘the Grant’), including the application process.
For more information about the Grant’s subject fields, grant amounts, and other details, please refer tothe following websites and documents:
Graphic Culture Research Grant
https://www.dnpfcp.jp/foundation_e/grants/
Application Requirements 2024
https://www.dnpfcp.jp/foundation_e/grants/data/2024RequirementsEn.pdf
Using the bookmark function of Adobe Reader or other PDF viewing software, you can jump to eachchapter/section of this guide.
All product and service names mentioned in this guide are trademarks or registered trademarks of theirrespective companies.
The content of this guide is subject to change without prior notice.

2Recommended Environment
We recommend using the System on a PC with a display resolution of 1,280 x 1,024 pixels or higher. The
System is compatible with the following web browsers. Note that some older browsers may not display
the application as per the intended layout.
For Microsoft Windows Users:• Microsoft Edge (latest version)• Google Chrome (latest version)
For Apple Macintosh Users:• Safari (latest version)• Google Chrome (latest version)
While the System can be viewed on mobile devices like smartphones, the layout will not automaticallyadjust to the screen resolution. The System utilizes cookies and JavaScript, so please ensure both areenabled in your browser. For information on how to enable these functions, refer to your browser’smanual.

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The following software is required to view, edit, and print the application’s attached documents:
For editing the Research Plan:
Microsoft Word (Version compatible with .docx format files)
Note: Third-party software is not recommended as it may not display or save the layout correctly.
For viewing and printing the Recommendation Form (if required):
Software capable of viewing and printing PDFs, such as Adobe Reader

3

Applicant Registration
3.1

Temporary Registration (email address registration)
To apply for the Grant, you must first register as an applicant(create an account). Visit https://www.dnpfcp.jp/CGI/
foundation/grants/applicant/temporary_registration.cgi toopen the Applicant Provisional Registration page.
After reading the “Handling of Personal Information,”check the box if you agree, enter your email address, andclick submit. The email address input field will clear if youreset it.

If the email address is invalid, an error message will appear.

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If the email address is already registered, an error message
will appear.

A message will appear at the bottom when you havecompleted the submission.

The submitted email address will serve as your accountname and will be used for communication and notification
purposes.
Please note that you cannot change the account name after
registration. Ensure your email software is set to receive
emails from the dnpfcp.jp domain.

You will receive an email with a link for password registration.
Click the link to open the password registration page.

3.2

Password Setup
Enter a password that is between 12 and 20 alphanumericcharacters and click submit.
Please note the following password restrictions:• The only symbols allowed are “# & % - ! ?”• You cannot use more than three consecutive identical letters(e.g., “aaa”) or more than four consecutive numbers (e.g.,“1234”).
• You cannot use your email address or weak passwords like“password”

An error message will appear if the password is invalid.

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Once the password is submitted, your applicant registrationis complete.
You can log in from the registration completion page or visit
the login page at https://www.dnpfcp.jp/CGI/foundation/
grants/applicant/login.cgi.

3.3

Account Data Retention Period

The Foundation will retain the registered applicant account data for the current year only and will delete
it at the start of the next year’s application period. If you wish to apply again in the following year or later,
you will need to re-register as an applicant.

4

Login
4.1

Login
Enter the email address and password you registered in “3Applicant Registration” to log in and access My Page.

If the entered email address and password do not match theregistered information, an error message will appear.

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4.2

Two-Step Authentication
When you log in for the first time or after your session has
expired (14 days), the System will send a passcode for twostep authentication to your registered email address. Enter
this passcode on the authentication page.

If the code is invalid, an error message will appear.

Please note that operations from “3.1 Temporary Registration (email address registration)” to “4.2 TwoStep Authentication” require the use of the same web browser on the same device, otherwise an error will
occur and login will not be possible.

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5My Page
5.1My Page
My Page is the first page that appears when you log in andserves as the starting point for all application procedures.
The application process is roughly as follows (detailedinstructions are provided in the following chapters):
1. Download and complete the required files
2. Edit the application form
3. Upload the required files
4. Submit the application

5.2

Logout

To log out of the System, click the “Logout” button locatedin the upper right corner of each page. After logging out,
you will be redirected to the login page.
The link to the login page can be found on the Grant’s
webpage: https://www.dnpfcp.jp/foundation_e/grants/.

6Downloading Necessary Files and Editing Application Form
6.1

Downloading Necessary Files
Applicants must complete and submit detailed information on
the research in the Research Plan form, which is a Word
file. Download this form as an MS Word file from My Page.
If the applicant is not a full-time researcher at a university,
museum, or other research institution (i.e., part-timeresearcher, graduate student, individual researcher not
affiliated with a specific institution, etc.), a letter ofrecommendation from a university professor, museum
director, or similar official must be submitted. If applicable,
download the PDF file.

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Research Plan and Recommendation Form are also available on the Grant Web page at https://www.
dnpfcp.jp/foundation_e/grants/.
For details on the research plan and recommendation form, see “7 Research Plan and Recommendation Form.”
6.2

Application Form
To view and edit basic application information, click“Application Form” under “List of Applications” at thebottom of My Page to open the application form.

Click “Edit/Submit” on the application form to go to theedit page.
To exit the application form and return to My Page, click“Back to My Page.”

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6.3

Editing Application Form
Fill out the basic information on the application in theApplication Form.
The following entries are required:
1. Representative Researcher• Name of Representative Researcher (both FAMILY NAMEand Given Name)• Contact Address• Phone• E-mail (The same address as the account name is automatically entered. Editing is not allowed.)
2. Research Topic• Category (A: Research on graphic design or graphic artin general or B: Research on graphic culture-relatedarchives)• Research Topic (The Japanese field is not required for
a foreign applicant, but enter it if possible)
3. Research Period and Grant Amount• Period (One year or two years)• Desired Grant Amount (Enter in JPY. Max 500,000 JPY)
The category and the period are radio buttons. Click one ofthem.
Some of the entries will be duplicated in the Research Planform. Ensure that there are no discrepancies between thetwo.

6.4

CancelClicking the “Cancel” button at the bottom of the page
discards edits and returns to the Application Form page.

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6.5Temporary Save
You can temporarily save your edits before submitting
your application. Click “Save” at the bottom of the page tosave and return to the Application Form page. Temporarysaving is possible even if the required fields are left blankor before uploading the necessary files (see the nextchapter). Click “Edit/Submit” on the Application Form
screen page to edit again. The temporarily saved information
will be retained even after you log out.

7Research Plan and Recommendation Form7.1

Research Plan

Fill in the details of your research in the Research Plan Word file downloaded at “6.1 Downloading
Necessary Files.”Adjust the number of characters so that all items appear within the frame, and do not change the font size,line spacing, etc.
7.2

Recommendation Form

If the applicant is not a full-time researcher at a university, museum, or other research institution (i.e.,
part-time researcher, graduate student, individual researcher not affiliated with a specific institution, etc.),
a Recommendation Form from a university professor, museum director, or other equivalent person withexpertise in the relevant field (such as a faculty advisor or senior position holder) is required. Fill out theRecommendation Form PDF downloaded from “6.1 Downloading Necessary Files” and obtain the sealor handwritten signature (an electronic signature is also acceptable) of the person making the recommendation.

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7.3

Uploading Files
Upload your completed Research Plan and Recommendation
Form file.
Click on “File Specification” at the bottom of the Application
Form page to display the file selection dialog. Select thecompleted Research Plan Word file and (if required) theRecommendation Form PDF.
Uploading is not performed by simply specifying a file.
Saving or submitting the application will execute theupload (the file name will be automatically changed by thesystem after uploading is performed). Note that if you
cancel the upload and return to the Application Form, thefile will not be uploaded.
The uploaded Research Plan and Recommendation Form canbe downloaded from the link at the bottom of the Application
Form. Even if you have already uploaded the file once, you
can re-upload the revised file before submission.

7.4

Deleting Files
Clicking the “Delete” button at the bottom of the page will
delete the uploaded Research Plan and Recommendation
Form files.
Note that unlike uploading, this is done immediately afterclicking the button without temporarily saving or canceling.

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8Application Submission
8.1

Application Submission
After editing the Application Form and uploading theResearch Plan (and Recommendation Forms, if necessary),
submit the application before the end of the application
acceptance period. You can proceed to the final confirmation
before submission by clicking the “Confirm” button at thebottom of the page.

8.2Confirmation of Submission Details
Confirm your Application Form on the Confirmation ofSubmission page. You can return without submitting byclicking the “Back to Form” button.
After clicking “Submit,” the System will check theapplication’s contents; if there are no problems, thesubmission is complete.
After submission, you cannot re-edit the Application
Form unless it is in the “Returned” status described in “9After Application Form Submission.”

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If a required field is left blank or invalid, an error message
will appear on the Application Form editing page, and thecorresponding field will be highlighted in red. Correct
them accordingly.

8.3

Submission Completed
When the submission is successfully completed, you will
return to the Application Form, and the status will appear.
After submission, you will no longer be able to edit yourapplication (unless your application has been returned.)

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You will receive an email notifying you of the completionof the submission.

9

After Submitting Application
9.1

Status
The status of each stage of your application after submission
will appear in the Status field of the List of Applications at
the bottom of My Page and the top of your Application Formpage. The Comments from the Foundation may appear
below the status.

Each status means the following:
Submitted:

The application has been submitted and is awaiting verification by the Foundation.

Returned:

The Foundation has returned the application due to incomplete applications or missing
required documents. In this case, you can re-edit the Application Form and resubmit it
during the application acceptance period.

Received:

The Foundation has verified the application and required files. The applications with thisstatus are subject to the screening committee.

Desk-rejected: The application was rejected due to resubmission after the return was not made on time.
Adopted:The application has been accepted by the screening committee as a grant winner (seenext section).

Rejected:

The application has been rejected by the screening committee.

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The System will also notify you by email when your statuschanges.

9.2

Screening

Applications with a “Received” status will be subject to screening. The screening committee will conduct
the screening process in strict confidence, and each applicant will be notified of the review results bymid-October.
9.3

Adoption
For adopted applications, the “Adopted” status will appear
in the List of Applications at the bottom of My Page and at
the top of the Application Form page. PDF files of the“Notification of Adoption,” “Remittance Request,” and“Written Oath” will appear as required documents. Download
and fill them in (an electronic signature is acceptable) andsend them to dnp-foundation-grants@team.dnp.co.jp.

Applicants must also submit various reports at the end of the grant period (or at the end of the first year
if the grant period is for two years). You can download the templates from the Grant web page athttps://www.dnpfcp.jp/foundation_e/grants/.
The Foundation will also inform you by email of the necessary procedures after the adoption.

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10 Reset or Change Password and Delete Account10.1 Resetting a Forgotten Password
If you have forgotten your login password, go to thepassword reset page from the login page.

Enter your registered email address to receive an email
from the System with a link to the password reset page.

A message will appear when you submit your email
address.

You will receive an email with a link to reset yourpassword. Click on the link and open the password setup
page.

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Enter your password and submit. In addition to the disabledcharacters described in “3.2 Password Settings,” you cannot
use your current password.

Once you submit, the resetting process is complete. Log infrom the registration completion page or visit https://www.
dnpfcp.jp/CGI/foundation/grants/applicant/login.cgi.

10.2 Change Password
Click “Password Change” at the top of My Page to change
your login password.

Enter your current password and the new password andsubmit.
You cannot use the same password as the one currently set.
If you cancel the password change, you will return to My
Page without a password change.

Once you submit it, the change will be complete. Go backto My Page from the completion page.

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10.3 Stop Application (Account Deletion)
If you wish to cancel your application and terminate youraccount, delete your account from the top of My Page.
However, you can only delete your account before submitting
your application.
On the Account Deletion page, ensure your email address
is correct (you cannot edit it here), enter your password,and submit it. If you click the “Cancel” button, you will
return to My Page without the account deletion.

If the password differs from the registered one, an error
message will appear at the bottom of the page.

When the account deletion is completed, the completion
page will open.

You will also receive an email notification.
If you wish to apply again, start from the “TemporaryRegistration” page during the application acceptance period.

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11 Application Flow Chart

Password
Setup

Temporary
Registration

Password
ChangeAccountDeletion

Logout(Two-StepAuthentication)

Application
Form

My
Page

Login

Temporary
Save

Editing
Application
Form

CancelUploadingDownloading

Resetting
Password

Confirmation

ResearchPlan

Application
Submission

Recommendation

Invalid Form(Screening)

Downloading

Adoption

Notificationof Adoption
Remittance
RequestWritten Oath20